The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Durant named to USA Basketball Senior National Team roster
05.23.2007 | Men's Basketball
LAS VEGAS -- Former University of Texas standout Kevin Durant was one of eight players added to the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team program, USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo announced Wednesday. Durant joins fellow roster additions Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz), Tyson Chandler (New Orleans Hornets), Jason Kidd (New Jersey Nets), Mike Miller (Memphis Grizzlies), Greg Oden (Ohio State University), Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons) and Deron Williams (Utah Jazz).
The eight additions will join 17 players previously named to the USA Basketball Senior National Team and who are expected to participate in 2007. Those USA players include Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets), Shane Battier (Houston Rockets), Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons), Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors), Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs), Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers), Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls), Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic), LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards), Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns), Adam Morrison (Charlotte Bobcats), Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks), J.J. Redick (Orlando Magic), Luke Ridnour (Seattle SuperSonics) and Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns).
"I'm honored to be in this position," Durant said. "I've been watching USA Basketball for a while now, and it's an honor for me to participate in the camp. I'm looking forward to it.
"It's been a dream of mine to be a part of this program," Durant continued. "I think I'll bring a lot of passion and hard work to this team. Not saying that the older guys have not done that in the past, but I can add on to what they have done."
The first freshman in NCAA history to earn consensus National Player of the Year honors, Durant led the Big 12 Conference in scoring (25.8 ppg), rebounding (11.1 rpg) and blocked shots (67). He was the only player to rank in the Top 10 nationally in both scoring (fourth) and rebounding (fourth).
"Greg Oden and Kevin Durant represent the class of this season's college ranks and are certainly players we have great interest in, both for the present and for future USA Basketball teams," Colangelo said.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is leading the USA Senior Team for 2006-08, while Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni and Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan are serving as assistant coaches.
"For Greg (Oden) and Kevin (Durant) to show that they already have this commitment to play for the United States at this age is terrific," Krzyzewski said. "Hopefully they will play many, many years for USA Basketball. Both of these guys have no downside. Not only do they have talent, they also have work ethic and they have character. When you put those three together, it's a can't miss."
USA Basketball also announced Wednesday the 2007 training plans for its Senior National Team. The USA Seniors will conduct a three-hour practice on July 20 and on July 21, and will conclude the mini-camp on July 22 with the 2007 State Farm USA Basketball Challenge that will see the USA Senior Team divided for a Blue-White game. The game will be held at Thomas & Mack Center (game time to be announced).
The USA's July mini-camp will be utilized to determine finalists for the USA squad that will compete Aug. 22 -Sept. 2 in the FIBA Americas Championship 2007 that is also being held in Las Vegas. Following a three-week break, the selected USA finalists will reconvene in Las Vegas on Aug. 13 for the start of the final phase of the team's 2007 training. The USA team will train daily Aug. 13-21 in preparation of the FIBA Americas Championship 2007.
The FIBA Americas Championship 2007, featuring 10 men's national teams, is one of five FIBA Olympic qualifying zone tournaments and will determine the two men's teams from the Americas zone who will earn a qualification spot for the 2008 Olympic Games that are being held Aug. 8-24 in Beijing, China. The third, fourth and fifth place finishers will qualify for the 12-team 2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, July 7-13, 2008, site TBD, that will qualify the final three teams for the 2008 Olympics.
The USA was placed in the FIBA Americas Championship Group B and will open play against Venezuela on Aug. 22, followed by games against the U.S. Virgin Islands on Aug. 23, Canada on Aug. 25 and Brazil on Aug. 26. Placed into Group A were Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, Panama and Puerto Rico.
The FIBA Americas Championship 2007 will be conducted in three phases. The first phase features the 10 teams divided into two groups of five teams each for the first round. The teams will play round robin within their groups over five days, with each team scheduled for one day off during the first round.
After conclusion of the first round and establishment of first to fifth places for each group, the top four finishers in each first round group will advance to the second round. Teams finishing in the fifth position will conclude their participation in the tournament. The top four finishing teams of Group A and Group B will then form a single second round group, carrying with them the results obtained in the first phase.
In the second round, each team will play against the four advancing teams from the other first round group. At the conclusion of the second round, the top four placed teams will advance to the third phase, and the bottom four teams will conclude their participation in the tournament. In accordance with the standings after conclusion of the second round, the semifinals will be held on Sept. 1 and feature the No. 1 ranked team playing the No. 4 team, while the No. 2 ranked team will face the No. 3 ranked team. The finals will be played Sept. 2, with the losers in the semifinals playing for third and fourth, and the semifinals winners playing in the gold medal game for first and second places.
